RELIEF MEASURES NEEDED IN TIMARU.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 164, 13 July 1931, Page 7

RELIEF MEASURES NEEDED IN TIMARU.

(Special to the “Star.”) TIMARU, July 11. The urgent necessity for an even more generous response on the part of the public to prevent distress in the weeks of wipter yet remaining, is stressed in a statement on the work of the Central Relief Society during the two months of its working existence, presented to the committee at its weekly meeting. The statement showed that in the financial side, liabilities on July 4 amounted to £279 19s sd, and assets £9OB ISs lid, leaving a credit balance of £628 19s 6d in the relief account. A further £IOOO was required if the functions of the society were to be carried on this winter, and the requirements according to past experience fulfilled. The actual amount expended on relief since the inception of the society was £330. If the rate of expenditure were to remain the same, the balance would appear to be able to take care of the next three months, but so many new cases were presenting themselves, and the calls becoming so increasingly great, that probably only half that time -would see a very bare working margin unless a greater response was forthcoming from the public. In fact, it was only the willing help of the farming community in donating meat and produce, and the excellent, help of the Church guilds and others in supplying clothing, that had conserved the funds, and made possible the eroount of work which had been done. Lhe value of produce and clothing donated easily reached £SOO.

On the management side, liabilities were £ls 7s 6d, and assets £B3 10s, leaving a credit balance of £67 13s 4d. This side of the responsibility would need early attention if the society was to function for any length of time. The committee earnestly urged that the society take early action towards securing at least 1000 members at the annual fee of ss, so that the work would not be hampered in the future. This matter was regarded as extremely urgent. “ Dealing very N briefly with the work which had been accomplished, the report stated that it was interesting to note that there were now 306 cases being dealt with. The number of children belonging to families receiving assistance totalled nearly 600. Orders to tradespeople and to the society’s own depot totalled nearly 2000. These figures indicated the enormous amount of work involved, and with the new cases ‘coming along, exemplified the great needs of the future. In order that this work might be carried out thoroughly it was necessary that all who were in a position to do so should help, and the committee confidently appealed for further funds and donations of produce, so that no one in the community should be cold or hungry during the cold weeks which lie ahead.